Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

Obverse 15. Without the bulge found on number 24, state III.

Reverse M. Type of 1794. Like the other two dies of this type, this has rounded dentils similar to those found on the obverse die of number 12, a single leaf at C(E), no berry right of the bow, and double leaves at UN and the final s. Unlike them, it has single leaves above O(N)E, double leaf at OF, and a leaf about touching the base of E(R) at the upright. Six berries left and seven right. AM lean to the left with the base of A above M which is above the adjacent E. Fraction bar is high above DO, tilts up to the right, and merges with the numerator.

Die states: 1. Obverse not bulged. II. Light clash marks before the throat and behind the head. Reverse has a faint crack through the tops of AMERI. III. Cracked through the middle of ERTY.

Equivalents: Gilbert 24. McGirk 11D. Sheldon 101. EAC 25. Clapp-Newcomb 22. Encyclopedia 1685.

Rarity 5.

Remarks: Struck between states II and III of number 24. Some are on concave-convex blanks. Scot may have made this reverse at the same time as reverses H and I, though it does not follow the original sketch for 1794 as close as most dies of that year.

Condition Census:

MS-60 J. Coolidge Hills • Lyman H. Low #211, 12/ 1923: 351 $72.50 • Wayte Raymond, 12/1923 • George H. Clapp • ANS • Dr. William H. Sheldon. Obverse illusin Clapp-Newcomb, in Early American Cents, and in Penny Whimsy. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Noyes.

EF-40 Dr. George P. French, 3/21/1929 • B. Max Mehl FPL, 1929: 131 $140 • T. James Clarke, 1944 • B. Max Mehl, 1948 • Dr. William H. Sheldon • ANS. State II.

EF-40 W. E. Johnson, 1/1971 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr. • New Netherlands Coin Co. 11/1973: 419 $375 • Denis W. Loring, S /1974 • Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz • William R. T. Smith, 1/1975 • Myles Z. Gerson. Denis W. Loring, 11/1980 • Fred H. Borcherdt.

VF-30 George H. Clapp, 3/31/1949 • Carnegie Institute • Ray Byrne (Pittsburgh) • Abner Kreisberg Corp., 5/1974 • Gordon J. Wrubel. Jack H. Beymer. Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz, 7/1974 • Dr. C. R. Chambers • Charles E. Harrison, 1/1994 John Whitney.

VF-30 Dr. George P. French, 3/21/1929 • B. Max Mehl FPL, 1929: 147 $100 • T. James Clarke, 10/1954. R. E. Naftzger, Jr. • Denis W. Loring, 1971 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Galleries 9/1986: 135 $4,125. State II.

VF-30 Sharpness of EF-45 but lightly porous; dark olive. Purchased unattributed from Art del Gaudio by Jeffrey Oliphant.

VF-25 John P. Young • M. H. Bolender #181, 9/1951: 76 $30.

VF-20 Mayflower Coin Auctions 3/1957: 160 $80 • Glen Wallace • A. Kosoff • Rare Coin Company of America 5/1974: 833 $250 • William R. T. Smith.

VF-20 Charles J. Dupont • Stack's 9/1954: 131 $100 • Dorothy Paschal • Dr. Willard J. Carmel, Jr. • Dr. Philip W. Ralls, 5/2/1997 • W. M. "Jack" Wadlington.

VF-20 Richard Picker • G. Lee Kuntz • Superior Galleries 10/1991: 113 $1,265 • John R. Frankenfield.

F-15 Ralph Goldstone • George Ramont, 8/12/1976 • an undisclosed collector.

F-15 Sharpness of VF-30 but some pitting and lightly porous. Charles M. Williams • Numismatic Gallery #68,11/1950: 106 $16 • Willard C. Blaisdell. Del Bland • Jack H. Beymer • Joseph H. Rose • Harmer Rooke Numismatists, Ltd. 3/1990: 65 $4,950 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Stamp & Coin Co. 1/1996: 142 $1,430 • Phillip W. Clover. State II.

Obverse 16. LIBER'IY closely spaced, especially at the bases of IB and ER, yet B E and R T are well apart. Date is more evenly spaced than on the preceding. Minute die chips between the drapery and 79, through the top of 6, and in the field right of the date.

Reverse M.

Die states: I. Perfect obverse. The reverse crack gradually extends through the tops of AMERIC. II. Cracked from the rim to BE and to the hair, narrowly missing the base of R. This crack later extends through base of the forelock almost to the rim opposite the nose.

Equivalents: Gilbert 7. McGirk HA, llA2, 12K (this last as "G-31"). Ross 7-F. Clapp-Newcomb 7. Sheldon 102. EAC 26. Encyclopedia 1685.

Rarity 4.

Remarks: Sheldon claimed a perfect die reverse exists. If this is true, it would have been made before the last of number 25. Sometimes found on concave-convex blanks. Evidently some mixing of planchet stocks occurred. Several are known with a double profile, notably the Dr. George P. French, Robinson S. Brown, Jr. coin and the Homer K. Downing, Jack H. Robinson coin.